Charge control system

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-056604 filed on Mar. 30, 2022, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a charge control system mounted on an electric vehicle.

In recent years, research and development on power-charging/supplying of a vehicle on which a secondary battery is mounted that contributes to improvement in energy efficiency have been carried out to secure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for more people.

Incidentally, in the power-charging/supplying of the vehicle on which the secondary battery is mounted, it has been proposed that an upper limit SOC (State Of Charge) that is a SOC for ending charge of the battery is set to be lower than a full charge SOC (for example, JP5847923B, JPH9-294303A, and JP2018-114874A).

When the upper limit SOC is set to be low, deterioration of the battery can be prevented, and a battery life can be expected to be extended, but a charge count may increase or a so-called power shortage in which power is insufficient may occur. Therefore, it is preferable that an intention of the user is reflected in setting the upper limit SOC.

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to provide a charge control system that can set an upper limit SOC by reflecting an intention of a user.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a charge control system for a battery mounted on an electric vehicle. The charge control system includes processing circuitry configured to: acquire an intention of a user related to charge; set a range of an upper limit SOC based on the intention of the user, the upper limit SOC being a SOC for ending the charge of the battery; acquire power consumption history of the battery; and set the upper limit SOC in the range of the upper limit SOC based on the power consumption history.

1 7 FIGS.to hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to.

1 FIG. 1 FIG. 1 11 12 2 3 1 1 11 1 1 11 11 11 4 11 4 is a diagram showing a relationship among a vehicleincluding a batteryand a charge control system, a management server, and a portable terminalof a user. In the present embodiment, the vehiclemay be any vehicle as long as the vehiclecan be moved by a power supply from the battery. Therefore, the present embodiment can be applied to various vehiclessuch as a two-wheeled vehicle, a three-wheeled vehicle, and a four-wheeled vehicle. Further, the vehicleincludes an electric vehicle that travels by the power supply from the battery, and a hybrid vehicle including a motor that performs drive by receiving the power supply from the batteryand an internal combustion engine. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in, a case where the batteryis charged from an external power supplyby a plug-in method will be described, but the batterymay be charged from the external power supplyby a non-contact power supply method.

1 FIG. 1 11 12 13 14 15 4 1 1 4 11 41 4 15 As shown in, the vehicleincludes the battery, a charge control system, an in-vehicle display, a communication control unit, and a charge port. The external power supplyis, for example, charge equipment installed in a site of home of a user of the vehicle. When the vehicleis in the site, the user establishes a state where the charge from the external power supplyto the batteryis enabled by inserting a charge connector (charge gun) provided at a tip end of a cablethat extends from the external power supplyinto the charge port.

15 12 4 11 12 11 12 12 1 12 2 3 1 2 3 When the charge connector is connected to the charge port, the charge control systemcontrols the charge from the external power supplyto the battery. Further, the charge control systemsets an upper limit SOC that is a SOC for ending the charge of the battery. Functional configurations provided in the charge control systemin order to set the upper limit SOC will be described later. In the present embodiment, the charge control systemis mounted on the vehicle, but the charge control systemmay be mounted on the management serveror the portable terminal, or may be dispersedly mounted on the vehicle, the management server, and the portable terminal.

13 1 13 13 The in-vehicle displayis a navigation device or the like provided in the vehicle. Therefore, the in-vehicle displaycan display the various pieces of information as images and output the information as sound. Further, the in-vehicle displayincludes an operation unit such as a touch panel that receives an operation input from the user.

14 2 3 14 11 2 3 2 3 The communication control unitcan transmit and receive information to and from the management serverand the portable terminalby wireless communication. For example, the communication control unittransmits information (for example, a current SOC, a charge warning notification, and a charge mode change request) on charge control of the batteryto the management serveror the portable terminal, and receives instruction information (for example, a charge mode change instruction) on the charge control from the management serveror the portable terminal.

2 21 21 14 1 3 21 14 1 3 The management serverincludes a communication unit. The communication unitcan transmit and receive information to and from the communication control unitof the vehicleand the portable terminalby wireless communication. For example, the communication unitmediates communication between the communication control unitof the vehicleand the portable terminal.

3 31 32 33 31 21 2 14 1 32 33 The portable terminalis, for example, a smart device such as a smartphone, and includes a communication unit, a display unit, and an operation unit. The communication unitcan transmit and receive information to and from the communication unitof the management serverand the communication control unitof the vehicleby the wireless communication. The display unitdisplays various pieces of information as images. The operation unitis a touch panel or the like that receives an operation input from the user.

12 Next, functional configurations of the charge control systemwill be described.

12 12 121 122 123 124 125 126 2 FIG. The charge control systemincludes hardware including a control processor such as a CPU and a storage device such as a ROM, a RAM, and a storage, and software such as a charge control program stored in the ROM or the storage. As shown in, the charge control systemincludes a user intention acquisition unit, an upper limit SOC range setting unit, an allowable charge count setting unit, a power consumption history acquisition unit, a required SOC calculation unit, and an upper limit SOC setting unit, as functional configurations implemented by cooperation between the hardware and the software.

121 11 3 FIG. The user intention acquisition unitacquires an intention of the user related to the charge. For example, as shown in, a plurality of charge modes in each of which a range of the upper limit SOC and an allowable charge count are set are prepared in advance, and any one of the plurality of charge modes is set based on an input from the user. In the present embodiment, a 100% charge mode and a balanced charge mode are prepared as charge count priority modes in which a charge count is prioritized, and a caring charge mode is prepared as a battery life priority mode in which a life of the batteryis prioritized.

3 FIG. In the battery life priority mode, an allowable charge count is larger than that in the charge count priority mode, and a lower limit value of a setting range of the upper limit SOC is lower than that in the charge count priority mode. For example, as shown in, in the caring charge mode, an upper limit SOC setting range is set to 60% to 100%, and an allowable charge count is set to three to four times a week, and in the balanced charge mode, the upper limit SOC setting range is set to 80% to 100%, and the allowable charge count is set to one to two times a week. In the 100% charge mode, the upper limit SOC setting range is set to 100%.

131 13 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 131 4 FIG. a b c d e f d e f a b c The user sets a charge mode by, for example, displaying a setting screenas shown inon the in-vehicle display. The setting screenincludes a plurality of mode selection buttons,, andthat can select the charge modes by a touch operation (tap operation), and descriptions,, andof the charge modes. The user reads the descriptions,, andof the charge modes to select a preferred charge mode, and touches the mode selection button,, orof the selected charge mode to enable the selected charge mode.

122 11 3 FIG. Based on an intention of the user, the upper limit SOC range setting unitsets a range of the upper limit SOC that is a SOC for ending the charge of the battery. For example, as shown in, when a charge mode selected by the user is the caring charge mode, the upper limit SOC setting range is set to 60% to 100%, when a charge mode selected by the user is the balanced charge mode, the upper limit SOC setting range is set to 80% to 100%, and when a charge mode selected by the user is the 100% charge mode, the upper limit SOC setting range is set to 100%.

123 3 FIG. Based on the intention of the user or charge behavior history of the user, the allowable charge count setting unitsets the allowable charge count in a predetermined period. The predetermined period is, for example, one week. As shown in, for example, when a charge mode selected by the user is the caring charge mode, the allowable charge count is set to three to four times a week, and when a charge mode selected by the user is the balanced charge mode, the allowable charge count is set to one to two times a week. When a charge mode selected by the user is the 100% charge mode, the allowable charge count in the predetermined period is not set.

124 11 124 The power consumption history acquisition unitacquires power consumption history of the battery. For example, the power consumption history acquisition unitacquires a SOC at the time of departing from home and a SOC at the time of returning home, calculates a ΔSOC (%/day) used in one day based on a difference thereof, and registers the ΔSOC in the storage unit in association with date data.

125 125 125 5 FIG. Based on the power consumption history and the allowable charge count, the required SOC calculation unitcalculates a required SOC that is a SOC required for one-time charge. For example, as shown in, based on the power consumption history, the required SOC calculation unitmultiplies a normal SOC, which is a SOC normally consumed in one day, by the required number of days (for example, three days in the caring charge mode, and six days in the balanced charge mode) determined by the allowable charge count (charge mode) to calculate the required SOC. Further, based on the power consumption history, the required SOC calculation unitacquires a maximum SOC that is a maximum SOC consumed in one day in a past predetermined period. The past predetermined period is, for example, one week started from a previous day, one week in a previous week, or the like to be calculated. When acquiring the maximum SOC, even if the maximum value is not simply obtained, data having a maximum consumption SOC in travel data excluding irregular travel (outlier) may be set as the maximum value.

126 126 11 1 11 12 12 1 5 FIG. 5 FIG. Based on the required SOC, the upper limit SOC setting unitsets the upper limit SOC in the range of the upper limit SOC. For example, as shown in, the upper limit SOC setting unitacquires a first SOC obtained by adding the required SOC to a current SOC (current SOC) of the batteryand a second SOC obtained by adding the maximum SOC to a reference SOC, and sets a larger one of the first SOC and the second SOC as the upper limit SOC. The reference SOC may be a charge warning light operation SOC that is a SOC for a charge warning light of the vehicleto operate, may be a SOC use lower limit value of the battery, or may be a set value set by the charge control systemor the user. The set value set by the charge control systemis, for example, the normal SOC that is the SOC normally consumed in one day, or a SOC set to the normal SOC in consideration of a calculation error (for example, 5%). In the example of, the reference SOC is described as the charge warning light operation SOC that is the SOC for the charge warning light of the vehicleto operate.

5 FIG. In the example of, if a charge mode is the caring charge mode, the second SOC is set to the upper limit SOC, and if a charge mode is the balanced charge mode, the first SOC is set to the upper limit SOC.

126 13 3 126 When the upper limit SOC cannot be set in the range of the upper limit SOC based on the required SOC, the upper limit SOC setting unitrequests the user to change the charge mode. For example, a screen on which a change in the charge mode is requested is displayed on the in-vehicle display, or a charge mode change request notification is transmitted to the portable terminal. When the user changes the charge mode according to the request, the upper limit SOC setting unitsets the upper limit SOC based on the changed charge mode.

12 12 12 According to the charge control systemconfigured in this way, since the range of the upper limit SOC is set based on the intention of the user, it is possible to perform charge reflecting the intention of the user. Accordingly, the upper limit SOC can be set low for a user who gives priority to a battery life. On the other hand, the upper limit SOC can be set high for a user who wants to reduce the charge count. Further, the charge control systemsets the upper limit SOC based on the required SOC required for one-time charge. Therefore, it is possible to prevent so-called power shortage in which power is insufficient while reflecting the intention of the user. Further, the charge control systemcan avoid a charge amount being insufficient even if a distance corresponding to a maximum SOC in a past predetermined period is traveled while considering the intention of the user by setting the larger one of the first SOC and the second SOC as the upper limit SOC.

12 12 Since the user only needs to select a charge mode in which the range of the upper limit SOC and the allowable charge count are associated with each other, it is possible to avoid troublesome setting. In the charge mode in which the charge count is prioritized, it is possible to sufficiently secure one-time charge amount to suppress the charge count. Further, in the charge mode in which the battery life is prioritized, the battery life is prevented from being shortened. Further, when the charge control systemcannot meet the intention of the user, the charge control systemprompts the user to change a charge mode, so that it can be avoided that the battery is charged in a charge mode not intended by the user. When a charge mode is changed, the upper limit SOC is set in the changed charge mode, so that it is possible to perform charge in an optimum charge mode.

12 6 7 FIGS.and Next, a process procedure of the charge control systemwill be described with reference to.

6 FIG. 12 1 11 1 12 12 11 12 12 13 14 12 15 16 In registration of the power consumption history shown in, the charge control systemdetermines whether an ignition switch of the vehicleis ON (S), and determines whether a position of the vehicleis home (S). When any one of determination results is NO, the charge control systemends the process. When both the determination results in step Sand step Sare YES, the charge control systemacquires a SOC at the time of departure (S), and acquires a SOC at the time of returning home (S). Thereafter, the charge control systemcalculates a ΔSOC (%/day) used in one day (S), and registers the calculated ΔSOC in the storage unit (S).

7 FIG. 12 21 22 23 12 24 25 12 26 12 27 12 28 In setting of the upper limit SOC shown in, the charge control systemacquires a charge mode and charge consumption history (S, S), and acquires a normal SOC and a maximum SOC from the charge consumption history (S). Further, the charge control systemcalculates a required SOC required for one-time charge based on the normal SOC (S), and calculates a first SOC and a second SOC (S). Thereafter, the charge control systemdetermines whether the first SOC is larger than the second SOC (S). When the determination result is YES, that is, when the first SOC is larger, the charge control systemsets the first SOC as the upper limit SOC (S). When the determination result is NO, that is, when the second SOC is larger, the charge control systemsets the second SOC as the upper limit SOC (S).

Although the embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is apparent that those skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications and alterations within the scope described in the claims, and it is understood that such modifications and alterations naturally fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Further, the constituent elements in the embodiments described above may be combined freely within a range not departing from the spirit of the invention.

126 For example, in the above-described embodiment, it is configured that the plurality of charge modes in each of which the range of the upper limit SOC and the allowable charge count are set are provided to the user, and the user selects one charge mode from the plurality of charge modes. However, in the charge mode, only the range of the upper limit SOC may be set. Further, the range of the upper limit SOC may be configured to be input by the user himself/herself. In this case, the upper limit SOC setting unitsets the upper limit SOC in the input range of the upper limit SOC based on the power consumption history.

123 123 123 126 Further, the allowable charge count in a predetermined period (for example, one week) may be also configured to be input by the user himself/herself. In this case, the allowable charge count setting unitsets a numerical value input by the user as the allowable charge count. Further, the allowable charge count setting unitmay set the allowable charge count based on the charge behavior history of the user. For example, in a case of a user who performs the charge two times a week, the allowable charge count setting unitsets a charge count that allows the allowable charge count per week to two. When the range of the upper limit SOC and the allowable charge count are set, the upper limit SOC setting unitsets the upper limit SOC in the range of the upper limit SOC based on the required SOC required for the one-time charge.

In the present specification, at least the following matters are described. Although corresponding constituent elements or the like in the above-described embodiment are shown in parentheses, the present invention is not limited thereto.

12 11 1 121 a user intention acquisition unit (the user intention acquisition unit) configured to acquire an intention of a user related to charge; 122 an upper limit SOC range setting unit (the upper limit SOC range setting unit) configured to set a range of an upper limit SOC based on the intention of the user, the upper limit SOC being a SOC for ending the charge of the battery; 124 a power consumption history acquisition unit (the power consumption history acquisition unit) configured to acquire power consumption history of the battery; and 126 an upper limit SOC setting unit (the upper limit SOC setting unit) configured to set the upper limit SOC in the range of the upper limit SOC based on the power consumption history. (1) A charge control system (the charge control system) for a battery (the battery) mounted on an electric vehicle (the vehicle), the charge control system including:

According to (1), since the range of the upper limit SOC is set based on the intention of the user, it is possible to perform charge reflecting the intention of the user. Accordingly, the upper limit SOC can be set low for a user who gives priority to a battery life. On the other hand, the upper limit SOC can be set high for a user who wants to reduce the charge count.

123 an allowable charge count setting unit (the allowable charge count setting unit) configured to set an allowable charge count in a predetermined period based on the intention of the user or charge behavior history of the user; and 125 a required SOC calculation unit (the required SOC calculation unit) configured to calculate a required SOC based on the power consumption history and the allowable charge count, the required SOC being a SOC required for one-time charge, in which the upper limit SOC setting unit sets the upper limit SOC in the range of the upper limit SOC based on the required SOC. (2) The charge control system according to (1), further including:

According to (2), since the upper limit SOC is set based on the required SOC required for one-time charge, it is possible to prevent power shortage while reflecting the intention of the user.

a plurality of charge modes in each of which the range of the upper limit SOC and the allowable charge count are set, in which the user intention acquisition unit sets any one of the plurality of charge modes based on an input from the user. (3) The charge control system according to (2), further including:

According to (3), since the user only needs to select a mode in which the range of the upper limit SOC and the allowable charge count are associated with each other, it is possible to avoid troublesome setting.

in which the plurality of charge modes include a charge count priority mode and a battery life priority mode, and in which the allowable charge count in the battery life priority mode is larger than that in the charge count priority mode, and a lower limit value of a setting range of the upper limit SOC in the battery life priority mode is lower than that in the charge count priority mode. (4) The charge control system according to (3),

According to (4), the one-time charge amount can be sufficiently secured in the charge count priority mode. Further, in the battery life priority mode, the charge is performed in consideration of the battery life, so that the battery life can be prevented from being shortened.

in which when the upper limit SOC setting unit cannot set the upper limit SOC in the range of the upper limit SOC based on the required SOC, the upper limit SOC setting unit requests the user to change the charge mode. (5) The charge control system according to (3) or (4),

According to (5), when the intention of the user cannot be met, the user is prompted to change the charge mode, so that it can be avoided that the battery is charged in a charge mode not intended by the user.

in which when the charge mode is changed, the upper limit SOC setting unit sets the upper limit SOC based on the changed charge mode. (6) The charge control system according to (5),

According to (6), when the charge mode is changed, it is possible to perform the charge in an optimum charge mode by setting the upper limit SOC in the changed charge mode.

the required SOC obtained by multiplying a normal SOC by a required number of days determined by the allowable charge count, the normal SOC being a SOC normally consumed in one day, and a maximum SOC in a past predetermined period obtained from the power consumption history, and in which based on the power consumption history, the required SOC calculation unit acquires a first SOC obtained by adding the required SOC to a current SOC, and a second SOC obtained by adding the maximum SOC to a reference SOC, and in which the upper limit SOC setting unit acquires the upper limit SOC setting unit sets a larger one of the first SOC and the second SOC as the upper limit SOC. (7) The charge control system according to any one of (2) to (6),

According to (7), the larger one of the first SOC and the second SOC is set as the upper limit SOC, so that even if a distance corresponding to the maximum SOC in the past predetermined period is traveled, it is possible to avoid the charge amount being insufficient while considering the intention of the user.